The union rallies, each attended by over 1,000 people, were addressed by ITUC President Akiko Gono, Rengo leadership and representatives of anti-nuclear weapons and peace NGOs GENSUIKIN and KAKKIN.
“We deeply mourn the loss of so many people in the bombings of the two cities 78 years ago, and register with great sadness the impacts on the lives of survivors, known as Hibakusha. We acknowledge their efforts to see a world free of the threat of nuclear weapons and pledge to continue to support that as part of the broader ITUC commitment to peace, common security and democracy.
"Threats by Russia and North Korea in particular to actually use nuclear weapons underline the gravity of the situation and the need for urgent international action to rebuild and reinforce the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW). Almost half the world’s countries have accepted binding obligations under the TPNW in just six years since it was finalised but there is still much to do,” said Akiko Gono.
